Accelerometer



March 17, l1936.

R. w. BROWN AGCELEROMETER Filed Dec. 2s, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y l NVENTOR.l .I v Fay kf. Brown.

A TTORNEYJ'.

March 17, 1936. R, w, BROWN l AccELERoMETER Filed Dec. 23, 1 929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 aJ R. v. niv E m 1 w ,S MX ew ff my. 3J

m .w mln eN d Vw .Pup/L 0 0 a* o u n n Fay h/. gramm/1,.

R. w. BROWN ACCELEROMETER March 17, 1936.

' Filed Dec. 25,' 1929 5 sheets-sheet s NVENTOR. Fay IA/ ,Brau/vz.

ATTORNEYJ;

March 17,1936. A Rp w. BROWN 2,034,649

I AcELERoMETER Filed Dec. 25. 1929 5 sheets-sheet 4 lll Y INVENTOR. H Foz/l W. Brau/iz,

ATTORNEYJZ March 17, 1936. R. W, BROWN r 2,034,649

ACGELEROMETER Filed Dec. '23, 19129 s sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR /Fai Mrawn.

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 17, 1,936

PATENT OFFICE ACCELEROMETER Roy W. Brown, Akron,

Ohio, assigner to'The l Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, Akron,

Ohio, a corporation off `Application December 23,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to instruments for measuring shocks or accelerations imparted to bodies, particularly those occurring in moving vehicles.

VThe purpose of the invention is to devise means for determining the riding qualities of automobiles, railroad coaches and the like by measuring the frequency and intensity of the accelerations produced while the vehicle is in motion over its road-bed. Such an instrument is particularly .valuable in determining the results obtained when it is attempted to reduce such shocks produced in a vehicle or other body by incorporating therein various kinds of shock absorbers, cushions, vibration insulators, or diierent .types of springs or tires. The instrument embodying the invention is also adaptable for measuring accelerations in stationary bodies subject to vibration, such as engines or motors.

An object of the invention is to devise a simple, rugged and accurate accelerometer adapted to detect accelerations occurring within a definite intensity range. A further object is to devise means for measuring accelerations through a range of progressively greater intensities. Another object is to devise an accelerometer operable over a variable range of intensities. A still further object is to devise means for eliminating chattering in a contact type accelerometer.

Another object is to devise means for counting the accelerations detected by the contact element. Still another object is to devise a counter of sufdcient speed to accurately count rapidly occurring accelerations such as those which are produced 'in a moving vehicle in road service, the counter being adapted to give the total of the accelerations of a given intensity or to give the individual totals of the accelerations of a plurality of given different intensities.

The foregoing and other objects are obtained by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings 'and described below. It is to be understood that the device isnot limited to thespecic form thereof disclosed herein.

Of the accompanying drawings, l

Figure 1 is a plan view of the contact element assembly of an accelerometer embodying the principles of the invention; A

Figure 2 is a vertical sectiontaken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 2a is a vertical section of a contact element of an accelerometer embodying a modified form of the invention.

' Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the registering or counting mechanism of the accelerometer;

Ohio

1929, Serial No. 416,178

` Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the register with the back of the casing removed to expose the working parts;

lFigure 5 is an enlarged scale plan detail of ythe counter mechanism;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional detail taken onthe line 6-6 of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a side elevation of a Wheatstone bridge unit incorporated in the invention;

Figure 8 is a wiring diagram of one set of the l0 elements of the instrument; and

Figure 9 is a graphical representation ,illustrative of the results obtained by the instrument.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral I0 denotes aecasing adapted to be attached to the 15 body, the accelerations of which are to be measured. 'I'he casing is provided with a cover I I and A f has clamped within its interior a base I2 carrying one or more solenoids I3, each enclosed in an iron casing I4. Each solenoid is provided with 20 a central cylindrical passage I5 in which a Weighted armature I6 is adapted to reciprocate. A cover plate I'I for each solenoid has threaded therein a graduated micrometer screw I8 adapted to be locked in a desired position by means of set 25 screw I9 and provided at its lower end with an electrical contact point 20 adapted to contact with a similar point 2| projecting from the top of armature I6. The lower limit of reciprocation of the armature is determined by a screw plug 22 30 engageable with the bottom of the armature. The screw plug 22 is locked in the desired position by a set screw 23. The armature I 6 is guided in its movement by means of a ange 24 projecting from the top of the armature and by means of a cantilever spring 25 connected to base I2 and `ailixed to a stem 26 projecting from the bottom of the armature. The spring also serves as an electrical connection to lower contact point 2I. It wm be apparent that incertain appucations of the device it may be desirable to support both ends of the armature I6 by cantilever springs. In this modied form of the invention the armature is also supported at its upper end by a cantilever spring 25a.

In Figure 7 is shown a Wheatstone bridge unit 2 1 which is normally made up of three resistance windings 28, 29 and 30. j k

The registering device includes a magnet 32 preferably of the permanent type which is provided with laminated pole pieces 33 which are adapted to closely surround and support coils 34. Pivotally mounted preferably on jeweled bearings 35 is a laminated armature 36, formed with an extending' arm 31 which lis pivotally connected 55 as at 38y with a pallet bar 39 which controls the movement of escapement wheel 40. The escapement wheel 40 is incorporated in any standard numerical register 3| so that upon one escapement of the wheel 49 the register will register once.

The register 3| may be spring driven and wound by a key 4|. For compactness and convenience all of the apparatus with the exception of the accelerometer units are mounted in a case 60. This apparatus includes on and off switches 44, a voltmeter 45, an ammeter 46, a reversing switch 4`I, a rheostat 48 having a sliding contact operated by a key 48a and double jacks 49.

Figure 8 illustrates the manner in which one set of the various instruments are connected. At 42 and 43 are shown leads to a suitable source of electric power preferably 6 volts direct current. The on and off switches 44 are usually employed in the power leads. For testing purposes a double jack 49 may be placed in the circuit as shown. When the jack is employed a resistance unit 50 is placed across the inner poles of the double jack. Ear phones, a galvanometer or the like may be plugged into the jack for testing. The resistance 50 approximates the resistance of the testing device.

For the sake of simplicity of explaining the operation of the device only one accelerometer unit with the cooperating registering instrument will be taken as shown in Figure 8. l

The accelerometer unit is securely fastened to any member such as an axle, frame, spring or the like in which it is desired to measure the shocks or accelerations.' The case 60 is placed atlany distance from the accelerometer unit as long as wires can connect the two. The case 60 is also placed in as shock-proof a place as possible, although the instruments therein are'fairly rugged. The solenoid I3 of the accelerometer unit is energized by closing the switch 44 in the leads 42, whereupon the rheostat 48 is adjusted so as to pass a substantial current through the solenoid I3. After passing a substantial current through the solenoid in one direction for a short period the adjusting means 48a of the rheostat is moved to cut down the amount of current passing through the solenoid and the reversing switch A4`| is thrown to pass the current `through the solenoid in the opposite direction.

Passing a substantial amount of current through the solenoid for a short period in the opposite direction from that at which the solenoid is normally operated wipes out or does away with any residual magnetism in the solenoid I3 or the armature I6.

The rheostat 4B is now adjusted to pass a predetermined amount of current through the solenoid I3 which tends to hold the contact points 20 and 2| together with a certain degree of force, dependent of course upon the amount of current passed through the solenoid and upon the size of the solenoid.

The switch 44 in the leads 43 is closed and current is supplied to opposite ends of the Wheatstone bridge 21. Now as long as the movements of the body or member to which the accelerometer unit is attached stay below a certain acceleration the contact points 20 and 2| in the accelerometer unit will stay together and as long as they stay together current will ow across the midpoints of the Wheatstone bridge in one direction, due to the unbalanced resistances. 'I'his current will energize'the coilsf34 in the registering device which will magnetize the laminated armature 4using dead weights.

36 and form oppositely charged poles at the ends thereof. The magnet 32 and the pole pieces 33 will then cooperate with the magnetized armature 36 to turn and hold it at the extent of its movement in one direction. However, when the acceleration imparted to the member to which the accelerometer is attached goes above a determined limit the inertia of the armature I6 in the accelerometer causes the contacting points 20 and 2| to pull apart. When this occurs the conditions in the Wheatstone bridge are entirely changed and current will ow through the coils 34 of the register in the opposite direction which will change the polarity of the armature 36 and cause it to swing back the extent of its movement in the other direction where it will be held until the contact points 20 and 2| come together again.

The points will come together as soon as the acceleration has dropped below that which it is desired to register whereupon the solenoid I3 will draw the armature I6 back up to contact the points. As soon as the points have again contacted the current is reversed in the coils 34 and the armature 36 is swung back to its original position. The back and forth movement of the armature 36 rocks the pallet bar 39 and allows the wheel 40 to escape once, thus registering one acceleration of a. certain intensity upon the dial of the register 3|.

It will thus be seen that by incorporating a plurality of accelerometer units in which the solenoids are of stepped strength in a single casing as in Figure l and then providing a plurality of registers, it is possible to measure the number of accelerations occurring between a plurality of de ite accelerations simultaneously.

ese data may be very helpful in many ways. For example as graphically shown in Figure 9 tests were run on the same pneumatic tire inated with 29 and 34 pounds per square inch of air pressure. Four accelerometer units were mounted on the axle of a car adjacent the tire to be tested. The solenoids of the accelerometer units were constructed of varying number of turns of wire which were carefully determined so that one of the armatures I6 would pull its contacts 20 and 2| apart when the unit was subjected to an acceleration of fifty feet per second per second. 'I'he next unit was set to open at 100 feet per second per second, the next at 150 and the last at 200. The acceleration at which the contact points 20 and 2| open is thus controlled primarily by the number of turns of wire on the solenoid and by the current owing therethrough. However, by means of th'e micrometer screw I8 the tension in the cantilever spring 25 can be controlled as can the position of the armature I6 In the solenoid, thus giving a iinal adjustment for the accleration required to pull the contacting points apart.

One of the features of this type of accelerometer is the feasibility of absolute calibration by Ihe weight equivalent to a certain acceleration can be calculated and readily attached below the armature I3 of the unit.

The tire was inilated to 29 pounds pressure y per square inch and the automobile driven over a mile course. Inthe actual test the register of the two hundred feet per second per second accelerometer read l which was marked down on the graph as shown. 'I'he register of the one hundred fifty feet per second per second accelerometer read two hundred iifty. Then taking 10 from 250 due to the fact that the accelerations over 200 feet per second 'per second would alsoybe the greater number of accelerations occur at the lower end of this scale, the mean average accelerationfis taken to be 160 Afeet per second per4 secondv of which 240 have-occurred, thus locating a second point on the graph. The 100 feet'per second per second accelerometer has simultaneou'sly registered 830 accelerations, however 250 `of these lie above 150 feet per second per second,

hence 830 minus 250 equals 580 accelerations whichlie between 100 feet per second per second ,and 150 feet per second per second, or taking the `proving the superior'rding*qualitiesbf the tire inflated at 29 pounds. Obviously the tests could be extended to include various types and conditions of roads, driving speeds, vehicle loads, spring suspension and numerous -other conditions that obtain in actual service. It is quite probable that many applications will suggest themselves to those who desire to measure vibrations.

It will be evident that one or a plurality of accelerorneters can be employed. l They can be placed horizontally, vertically or at any angle, a correction factor being used to compensate for the variation due to gravity. They can be adjusted to open at any desired acceleration. The apparatus is suiiiciently sensitive to register as high as 60 accelerations per second and yet the vaccelerometer units are rugged enough to withstand shocks and accelerations far above that for which they are calibrated.

In former contact type accelerometers the weight was supported by a spring or air pressure. Replacing the' spring or air pressure with a solenoid resulted in the elimination `of contact chatter, this desirable condition being a result of the core in a solenoid. That is, the force tending to hold the contacts together decreases very rapidly with slight downward movement of the solenoid,

hence, when an acceleration is reached which isl su'icient to start motion oi' the core downward the movement is propagated by the rapidly decreasing restraining force, thus eliminating contact chatter. The screw plug 22 is normally run up within a few thousandths of an inch of the armature I6 so as to prevent any excessive movement thereof and to assist in quickly closing the contacting points when the acceleration has dropped below the actuating point.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is to be taken in a descriptive and not a limiting sense, accordingly various modifications of the invention maybe resorted to without departing lfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope o f the appended claims.

What is claimed is: p

l. In combination in a shock -measuring device. a main support, a solenoid on said support, an armature, means for supporting said armature against lateral movement in said solenoid, said means yieldingly permitting a limited longitudinal movement of said armature, a contacting point on the armature, a stationary contacting point mounted on said main support in xed relation with said-solenoid, and means for'energizing said solenoid, whereby said armature `will be supported against;V the action 'of gravity by :said solenoid andl said contacting points are normally held together by the solenoid but are adapted to bepulled apart by the inertia of said armature against the action of said solenoid-when the unit is subjected to a greater than a predetermined acceleration. l

2. In combination in a vshock measuring device,

a main supporting structure, a solenoid mounted thereon, an armature within said solenoid, means supporting said armature in said solenoid permitting limited axial movement of the solenoid while restraining it against lateral movement, a contacting point on the armature, a. mating contactingpoint xed in relation with the solenoid, and means for energizing said solenoid whereby said contacting points are normally held together by said solenoid but are adapted to be pulled apart by the inertia of said armature against the action of said solenoid when the unit is subjected to a greaterv than a predetermined acceleration.

3. In combination in a shocktmeasuring deyice,

a main. support, a solenoid thereon, an armature in said solenoid, means including a spring for supporting said armature against lateral movement in said solenoid while permitting limited axial movement of said armature, a contacting point on the armature, a stationary mating contacting point fixed with respect to the solenoid, a micrometerscrewfor adjusting the position of the stationary contact point, and means for energizing said solenoid, whereby said armature is supported against the action of gravity by said solenoid and said contacting points are normally held together by said solenoid but` are adapted to be pulled apart by the inertia of said armature against the action of said solenoid when the unit is subjected to a. greater than a predetermined acceleration.

4. An accelerometer comprising a solenoid, an armature, a support on which said solenoid and armature are mounted, guiding and supporting `means mounting said armature on said support for preventing lateral movement of said' armature .and allowing limited longitudinal movement thereof, a contacting point on the armature, a mating contacting point on said support, and means for energizing said solenoid whereby said contacting points are normally held together by said solenoid but are adapted to be pulled apart by the inertia of said armature againstthe action of said solenoid when the unit is subjected to a greater than a predetermined acceleration.

5. In combination in a shock measuring device, a solenoid, an armature, a support on which said solenoid and armature are mounted, means for supporting said armature against lateral movement in said solenoid, said means permitting slight longitudinal movement thereof a contacting point on the armature, and'a mating con-I tacting point including means for mounting it in xed relation with the amature, means for energizing said solenoid whereby said contacting points are normally held together but are adapted to be pulled apart by the inertia' of said armature against the action of said solenoid when the unit is subjected to a greater than a predeterminedacceleration, said solenoid remaining energized,v when said contacts are pulled apart, whereby said armature will return to its normal position bringing the Contact points together when the acceleration is diminished to lese than the predetermined acceleration.

6. In combination in a shock measuring device,

a solenoid, an armature, a support on which said solenoid and armature are mounted, cantilever springmeans for supporting seid armature against lateral movement said solenoid, said. means permitting slight ongitudinel movement thereof 1o a. contacting point on the armature, and; a, me?.n

ROY W. BROWN. 10 

